Patriots' reflect on impact their high school coaches had on getting them to cusp of Super Bowl LIII

ATLANTA — You can’t write the story of the 2018 Patriots without first acknowledging the coaches who helped get them to the cusp of Super Bowl LIII. So we asked a handful of Patriots about the impact their high school coaches had on their careers, and how they helped guide them through the formative years and on to the NFL. Here are their stories:

Bill Belichick
Annapolis High (MD) — Al Larrimore

“Al Larrimore was a great coach — a Hall of Fame coach in Maryland, in three sports — football basketball and lacrosse. Won state championships. Very accomplished. That was he way he did it, so I kind of thought that’s the way it was. I wouldn’t say that is the way it is, but that’s the way it was from my viewpoint. I think I learned the right way and I was very fortunate to learn that.”

David Andrews
Wesleyan School (GA) — offensive line coach James McKeel

“I went to a Christian high school and we had Bible studies and things like that. Our offensive line coach spent a lot of time with me, not only coaching, but talking about things, about life. Being there and being more than just a coach. But he also taught me a lot of things about the game and built a great foundation by pushing me and challenging me. A lot of kids these days are doing specialized training. I never had any of that. I worked extra with him. During the spring, he would keep me after school. On Saturday, we would go do work. Me and him would go down one-on-ones together before I’d go to recruiting camps. He was a great coach, a great friend, and great mentor.”

Keion Crossen
Northampton County (NC) — Diego Hasty, Joshua Wallace and George Privott

“All of them were all good people, good coaches and great leaders. They all had different styles of offense, but off the field, that was the most meaningful thing about a good coach, especially in high school. Most of my head coaches gave me a ride home after practice. It’s the thought that counts. Kids who couldn’t afford a pair of cleats — to see a new pair of cleats in your locker … I didn’t figure out who got them for me until my senior year. That’s the impactful thing that makes a good coach so special, especially at the time in your life when you’re still developing as a man, and growing. You don’t understand or know life quite well yet. They keep you on the right track. From high school until, like, sophomore year of college, that’s when things can go downhill for you if you don’t watch it. In high school, you’re becoming an adult, and you have to watch what you do because you can still be in a childish mindset. To have that guidance is what they bring to the table ... it’s like a third parent. That’s why they’re so special.”

Brian Hoyer
St. Ignatius (OH) — Chuck Kyle

“I had a legendary high school coach. Anyone from the state of Ohio would know Chuck Kyle. He was very influential to me because growing up, I was very passionate about baseball and football and I always kind of saw myself as a baseball player. And then, I went to go see my first St. Ignatius football game, and I was like, ‘Man, this is electrifying. They’re playing in front of 25,000 or 30,000 people.’ Coach Kyle has been doing it at that school for a long time — I think since the mid-80s. I got a chance to go there and play for him, and he’s a very unique head coach. He teaches English. He’s a very philosophical, well-spoken … he can do a great pregame speech without a lot of rah-rah. It’s very philosophical. I’ll never forget the speech he gave to us before we were playing our rivals, St. Edward. He gave a great speech about how we were not only playing for each other, but — and it was an all-boys school — we were playing for all the men in the stands who couldn’t be out there. We weren’t supposed to win, but we did, 25-2. Just a great coach, great English teacher and a great man.

“Oddly enough, when I got cut by the Patriots in 2012, I didn’t know what to do. I went back home and he let me go and throw to the receivers. Be the scout team quarterback and stay in football mode. It kept me ready — when the Steelers called me up, I was ready to go. I had been throwing, because of him. He’s influenced a lot of great players, and he’s still doing it. I owe a lot to him.”

Chris Hogan
Ramapo High School (NJ) — Drew Gibbs

“He’s been coaching Ramapo since I was there. He’s been a very successful head coach, and won a number of state championships. When I wanted to play football and do this whole thing and play in the NFL, he was one of the first people I called and I told him what I wanted to do. He never second-guessed it, and always believed in me. And continues to believe in me. He always tells me how proud he is of me. Always texts me after games. Back then, when I was looking to go from lacrosse to football, he pulled up my high school film right away, he had it put on DVD, and had it sent over to me so I could send them out. That just goes to show you what type of high school football coach and person he is. He goes out of his way to help a kid who is trying to do something that’s a little out of the box — that’s the type of man he is. He just wants to help his guys any way he can.”

Cordarrelle Patterson
Northwestern High School (SC) — Jimmy Wallace

“He was one of the first guys who trusted, who believed in me. I didn’t play football my ninth- and 10th-grade years. I was just a kid, just going to school and living and hanging out. He really talked to me. ‘You really need to come out for football.’ I had a high school quarterback come out and tell me the same thing. I just remember that summer, we were doing a conditioning test, and he would tell me, ‘Man, you’re the fastest and strong guy I’ve ever seen.’ He was a crazy guy. Everyone in the world who knows Jimmy Wallace respects him. A lot. He showed me the way, and taught me the ropes growing up. He’s a guy I’ve always leaned on. We text — he’s not a good texter. I’m always trying to figure out what he’s saying. But he always texts and calls, and always makes sure if I’m around back in Rock Hill, I see him. I owe a lot to him, and always tell him, 'Thanks, Coach.'”

James Develin
Boyertown High School (PA) — Ron Zieber

“My high school coach was Ron Zieber. High school coaches are so instrumental because when you’re that age — 16, 17, 18 — you’re looking for that push in a certain direction. They instill that sense of discipline and everything it takes to play the game of football. I owe a lot to him. I only played high school football for three years, but he was with me for those three years and guided me in the right direction to play the game of football the way I do and help me become the man that I am. A good high school coach can be hugely instrumental … I would even say youth football too. It’s really great what all coaches at all levels can do for guys.”

Elandon Roberts
Memorial High School (TX) — Kenny Ray Harrison

“I was blessed enough to have two parents. They were real close to me as an athlete. My coach — I had a great coach, Kenny Ray Harrison. He coaches in Houston now. He was great coach to me. We could talk about anything. He still keeps up with me today. When I was young, he let me tag along with the 7-on-7 high school teams. They let me come and be a part of it, a big tournament. He just let me enjoy that experience with them. When I got up that way, I knew how that felt. He was a big influence on me.”

Matthew Slater
Servite High School (CA) — Larry Toner

“My coach Larry Toner, he taught me life was really bigger than football. He always used to say to our team and say to me and my family, he was building leaders of men. That was his slogan. And he did that. I think he showed us the importance of accountability. The importance of leadership. The importance of trying to do the right things all the time. And he was hard. He was a tough coach to play for as I look back on it. But I was so appreciative of the discipline he instilled in myself and my teammates and the level of greatness he expected out of us as men. I’ll always be in debt to Larry.”

Stephon Gilmore
South Pointe High School (SC) — Bobby Carroll

“He pushed me every day. We worked hard in high school. Probably harder than most high schools worked. He picked me up any time I needed a ride to go to workout and stuff. He helped me out a lot, on the football field, and in life.”

Dont’a Hightower
Marshall County High (TN)

“I had three different high school coaches. First one was Coach Mac — I had him for a year. He was a great coach. And then, I had William Johnson. My last coach was Don Thomas, and he’s the guy who got me to the University of Alabama. I talked to him a lot throughout the year. He’s a big part in where I am today. He helped me grow as a man and as a high school player.”

Jonathan Jones
Carrollton High School (GA) — Rayvan Teague

“Coach Teague, he was my head coach. He definitely had an impact on my life. The head coach, he has so much going on, I think the positional coaches in high school, when you get the one-on-ones with those guys, they’re the ones who people reach back to the most I think. The DB coaches, the wide receiver coaches, those are the guys who get more of the one-on-one time with you and you develop those relationships. But head coaches like Coach Teague, they put so much into those relationships with guys. That balance the team and the young man at that age and try to develop them at that age. You have people in public schools coming from so many diverse backgrounds that coaches have to deal with. So many different attitudes and types of kids and keep it all together. It’s a testament to the high school coaches and doing what they do.”

Ted Karras
Cathedral High School (IN) — offensive line coach Mic Roessler

“He was my mentor, weightlifting coach. He was an art teacher, which was interesting. But a guy who I would say was secondary only to my Dad in my development as a young man. I went out and played football for him, but also, could talk to him about just about anything. He was a mentor. I have to give a lot of credit t him. A high school coach is very special, and a role that’s interesting. You have to be a part of education as well as athletics. I give them a lot of credit.”